Land Cover Classification 2020 and analysis historical land cover changes since 1900 on Aruba

Summary

Aruba is rich in natural terrestrial ecosystems that range from dry tropical forest, caves and beaches to salt lakes and mangroves. The interaction of natural ecosystems with human activities is reflected in the land cover. Understanding current land cover and how the land is being used is elementary for land management and land use planning. In this study, we developed a land cover classification of Aruba based on very high- resolution satellite imagery, field observations, supplemented with local knowledge. Alongside this, we have analysed historical aerial photographs and the Werbata topographical maps to outline the changes in landcover from 1900 to 2020. The most significant land use change on Aruba is that urban areas have expanded more than 100 times since 1900 and now cover nearly 50% of Aruba. This land use change has taken place largely at the expense of agriculture and natural areas.